Routhier devotes at least two days a week to finding his inner self and helping others find peace at his club, Mindfulness and Meditation at MSU.

“For some reason, people are constantly focused on the nature of doing,” he said. “Meditation allows someone to be present right here, in the moment, no moving.”

Routhier’s journey with Zen meditation began in the wake of tragedy in 2004, when his wife was killed in an accident. He said the loss acted as a catalyst for a series of bad choices.

These choices, coupled with an abusive relationship, caused him to pursue therapy meditation. He began trying to solve koans, or riddles, that are meant to send people into a deeper state of mind.

During a trip he took to New York in 2007, he met his first Zen master, who helped him find the meaning of a koan that stumped him for six months.

Routhier said he felt something shift inside him after this.

“It was almost like a psychedelic trip,” he said. “It was something really profound — my vision changed for a moment and I had a hard time walking.”

Routhier was hooked on the practice of Zen meditation. He participated in many meditation retreats. The retreats lasted six to seven days and enforced a “sacred silence,” in which nobody can speak, make eye contact or use technology.

Routhier soon cut toxic relationships from his life.

“There are things I regret and things that have been lost along the way, but I would not have done anything differently,” he said.

Routhier started Mindfulness and Meditation at MSU last spring. Attendance at the sits are sporadic but that does not deter Routhier.

Routhier, who is graduating in May, said he hopes the club will continue.

“I only want someone to take up the torch and run with the foundation,” he said. “(Meditation) is very important and essential for living today.”

The club holds open sits on Mondays and Wednesdays at noon and Fridays at 3:30 in 287 Psychology Building with Student Services as an alternate location.